True Faith will Hasten Redemption
Gary Cooperberg
October 14, 2002
Israel is the only country in the world which feels it necessary to restrict the manner in which it defends itself from murderous enemies. Any normal country, when faced with murderous enemies, will do anything in its power to destroy those enemies. The primary obligation of any nation is to protect the lives and safety of its citizens. The leaders of the Jewish State seem to feel that their nation cannot survive unless we please the whims of the United States, even should doing so endanger our security. This, of course, is pure nonsense.
Ariel Sharon is a unique Jewish leader. He is a seasoned military leader, and also a seasoned politician. In the short time he has been in office he has succeeded in holding together a coalition of very unlikely partners. He has been preaching peace and conciliation while methodically destroying the PLO and executing its operative leaders. With all his brilliance and effectiveness, unless he recognizes the unique position of responsibility and leadership this country is destined to bring to the world, he will not succeed.
It is bittersweet irony to see how an ever growing number of Christians are coming to realize that the Jewish State is the beginning of fulfillment of Biblical Destiny. Although certainly a minority in the Christian world, these people see the ingathering of the Jewish exiles from all over the world; the restoration of the ancient Hebrew language; the return of Jewish sovereignty; and the blossoming of the desert all as clear indications that the reborn Jewish State is a miraculous phenomenon not to be reckoned with the establishment of other countries in the world. These people have vigorously cast off the allegations of the Christian church that the Jewish people are no longer the chosen of G-d. It is perfectly clear to them that G-d is using the Jewish people exactly as He explained he would in the Torah.
It is painful to note that most of our leaders sitting in our Knesset do not see our destiny coming to pass as clearly as do these Gentiles. Yet this was predicted by King David in psalm 126, which we recite before grace on the Sabbath and holidays. "Then it will be said among the gentiles, "G-d has done great things for them" (and only after this happens the Jews open their eyes and say): "G-d has done great things for us" and we will rejoice."
So rather than despair at this ironic situation, let us fulfill the psalm completely and rejoice at the great things G-d is doing for us. From generation to generation we have been made to undergo painful and difficult tests in order to strengthen our faith in G-d. Indeed, we can look around and truly feel the pain of Arab terror; of a failing economy in our homeland; of dire threats as world powers seek to force us to appease our enemies; and the seemingly impossible scenario of a potential war of annihilation when our Arab neighbors come together to attack us with weapons of mass destruction.
How then can we rejoice? This is the key to our destiny. When we rejoice as an expression of true faith in G-d, knowing in our hearts, no matter how bleak things may seem, that Divine Destiny is with us, this expression of true faith will hasten redemption and nullify the horrible pains we currently must endure.
Faith in G-d, as demonstrated by our actions, is the key to redemption today. The Jew in Israel can demonstrate that faith by rejecting the lie of "Palestine" and removing our enemies from our midst. And the Jews still in exile can demonstrate that faith simply by coming home. And Gentiles can express that faith by declaring, "G-d is doing great things for them", and backing up that statement by actions: petitioning their governmental leaders not to pressure Israel into mad concessions; opposing any sanctions against Israel by their government; and by visiting Israel, even when the state department issues warnings against doing so.
Project Shofar seeks to sound the alarm, to Jew and Gentile alike, that we must all open our eyes and be aware that redemption is rapidly unfolding before our eyes. If we continue to ignore this Divine process, or dare to act in opposition to it, we invite tragedy. For the good of all of Mankind we must demonstrate our faith in G-d by taking strong and difficult actions. The blessing of Abraham, "Those who bless you I will bless, and he who curses you I will curse, and through you will all of the families of the world be blessed" (Genesis 12:3) is the key to how we must conduct ourselves.
Project Shofar is dedicated to spreading these truths wherever it is possible to do so. It is sounding the alarm, to Jew and Gentile alike, to open our eyes to the G-dly process that is presently underway, and work to support it. We dare not stand idly on the sidelines.
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